CO  M  ,' 


LL1OTT    BLAINE    HENDERSON 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


ELLIOTT  BLAINE  HENDERSON 


Dis,  Dat  an'  Tutter" 


POEMS 

COMPOSED  BY 

ELLIOTT  BLAINE  HENDERSON 


Author  of  the  First  and  Second  Editions  of 

"Plantation  Echoes" 
and  "The  Soliloquy  of  Satan" 


SPRINGFIELD,  OHIO 

PUBLISHED   BY   THE   AUTHOR 

1903 


DEDICATION 

This  book  is  most  respectfully  dedicated  to  my  dear 
friend,  WILLIAM  H.  SYFERT,  Columbus,  Ohio,  who 
has  many  times  more  than  proved  a  friend  indeed. 

Many,  many  years 

May  you  live,  my  old  friend  ! 
Three  score  and  twenty, 

Four  score  and  ten. 
The  stuff  that  you're  made  of 

Is  of  sterling  worth  ! 
You  don't  find  none  better 

Here  on  this  green  earth. 

AUTHOR. 


CONTENTS 


De  Progress  ob  Progreshun 5 

De  Raddekayshun  ob  Bruddah  Jones 7 

Fishin'  Time 12 

Way  Down  Souf 16 

L,i'P  Brae  Sheep 19 

Pawson  Rowbuss  Visits  Sistah  Tootles 22 

De  Cullahd  Speekah 28 

Po'  L,iT  Rastus 33 

De  Big  Fow  Cullahd  'Cepshun 35 

Profuse  Encomium 38 

A  Dahky  Ditty 40 

Pawson  Johnson  at  Dinner 42 

Uncle  Ned  an'  de  Mockin'  Bird 44 

Wishd  Ah'd  Rode  Mah  Hoss 46 

Hus'el! 48 

When  de  Fiah  Am  Kindlin'  Hot  .                              ,  50 


Be  iprogrcss  ob  jprogressbun! 

To  MR.  C.  W.  WOLF,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Feller  citizens  ob  deez  United  States,  an' 
extinguished  constiterrunts  ob  dc  universal  do 
main,  an'  ladies  ob  de  world-wide  expanse: 

Ah  rize  to  declah,  proclaim,  eulogize,  ex- 
pulgate,  frustercate,  promulgate  an'  say: 

Parogorically  on  de  effulgence  ob  de  glorifi 
cation  an'  transcendency  ob  de  progress  ob  de 
prcgresshun  ob  de  twentieth  century;  fum  de 
time  dat  Lazarus  tarnd  Ravens  into  Buzzahds 
an'  backed  up  de  waters  ob  de  Mississippi  ocean, 
till  dey  rized  so  high  dat  de  worl'  was  in  ker- 
clipse. 

Dis  am  er  wonderful  century!  Mos'  ex- 
croosheatin '.  De  age  in  which  de  posterity  ob 
Adam  views  back  an'  down  de  bullervards  ob  de 
ages  an'  centuries,  passed  an'  comin'. 

An'  we  find  dat  de  bullervard  am  smoothed 
an'  greased  'slick  ez  glass  by  de  constant  comin' 
an'  passin'  ob  de  various  nations,  in  dey  trans 
actions  an'  doings,  in  excervatin'  de  worl'.  An' 
v:ho  froo  de  instrumentality  ob  providence  hab 
vitooperrated  an'  sallervated  de  extremity  ob 
time,  necessarily,  an'  done  captivated  an' 
twisted  erbout  de  pinacle  ob  astronomy  an'  or- 


ganized  de  horrerscope  ob  dooterronony  an' 
navigation  so  enthusiastically  in  sich  er  way  an' 
manner  ez  to  digest  an.'  disfranchise  de  pro 
verbial  state  ob  antiquity  beyond  de  posserbill- 
ities  ob  non  realization,  an'  precipitation. 

Yes  sah!  dis  am  er  great  century!  Puf- 
feckly  mahbellous!  An'  it  devastates,  capsizes 
an'  precippertates  mah  abberrishes  mentality, 
when  ah  tries  to  'splore  de  great  an'  mysterical 
regions  ob  mystery,  fillerbusterin'  de  recon 
struction  ob  fundermental  exclusion  an'  der 
jinein'  hands  wiff  circumstances,  catchin'  de 
bull  ob  opposition  by  de  tail  an'  dahby  circum- 
ventin'  an'  preventin'  de  stoppin'  ob  de  world's 
progress,  an'  frenollersizein'  de  frennerlogical 
conclusion  ob  valorism! 

An'  ez  Shakeerspire  says  we  shall  Vance  on 
an'  on,  till  we  run  pass  de  stars.  Faster  den 
race  hosses.  Yea !  faster  den  de  kyars !  De 
clouds  ob  opposition  will  kerf rollic  off  wiff  strife, 
an'  we'll  hab  er  gyarden  ob  eeden  fo'  all  ob  ah 
life. 


2>c  -Kaddcchaysbun  ob 
ISruddab  Bones. 

To  MR.  CLAUDE  MEEKER,  Columbus,  Ohio. 


Yer  honor,  Jedge  an'  all  de  res' 

Ah  rise  to  exkermunicate, 

To  organize  de  tendency, 

An'  splain  mahse'f  mos'  adequate. 

De  normity  am  mos'  profoun'. 
De  bruptness  am  personified. 
An'  kose  de  tick  tacks  on  boff  sides, 
Projects  us  somewhut  modified. 

Dey  hain't  no  venue  in  dis  case, 
De  skrootiny  am  fas'  planked  down, 
De  law  am  frusterkated  so, 
De  jurisprudence  on  dis  groun'. 

Now  see  hyar  Jedge,  an'  all  de  res', 
Ah's  hyar  dis  mawnin'  to  exclaim 
Dat  dis  whol'  tings  er  speeracy, 
To  'vick  Brer  Jones  it  am  er  shame. 

De  fus'  place  ah  hain't  seed  no  law, 
In  Blackstone  ner  in  de  almernack, 
To  prove  dat  Bruddah  Jones  am  stole, 
Dem  chickens  in  dat  coffee  sack. 

How  de  dickens,  in  de  fus'  place  Jedge. 
Ef  ah  mus'  so  vytrooperate, 
On  sich  inquisser  kayshessness, 
Jedge,  kin  yo '  dis  expaysheate  ? 


Ah  radicates  de  microscope ! 
An'  generates  debillity. 
To  'rase  de  tecknerkalities 
An'  breeveate  dis  whol'  decree. 

Yo'  knows,  Jedge,  what  ah's  dribein'  at, 
Ah's  got  de  bull  squall  by  de  tail. 
Dis  ani  er  hen  roos  argument, 
Ah  specks  some  points  am  kinder  frail. 

But  doan'  yo'  tinks  ah  hain't  befo', 
Had  jes'  sich  hen  roos'  case  lak  dis ! 
Ah  swah  sah !  on  dis  rabbit 's  foot, 
Dis  case  am  frail  ez  "Oily  Twiss." 

De  tick  tacks  ob  de  circumstance, 
Defilleates  de  microscope. 
Dah  being  no  loop  holes  in  de  law, 
Wiff  dis  case  it  am  hard  to  cope. 

Ah's  gwine  to  flosstercate  erbit. 
On  tings  pertainin '  to  sich  stuff, 
Ah  specks  befo'  ah  breeveates, 
Ah '11  spaysheate  Jedge  li'l  rough. 

Ah's  somewhut  handicapped  mahse'f, 
Ah  hain't  prezaxly  fixed  fo'  battle, 
De  krosserskewshun  ah  done  specks 
Desahs  to  stumpede  me  lak  cattle. 

Kose  Jedge,  ah  'd  lak  to  hab  mo '  time, 
To  zamin'  in  de  law  some  mo', 
Ah  kackerlates  de  ferment  strong, 
An'  kose  Jedge,  dey's  lots  mo'  to  know. 


All  dis  hyar  ebb'dence  'pears  to  me 
Er  swallord  gnat  an'  er  swallord  camel! 
All  dis  stuffs  jes'  been  Jedge,  hatched  up 
To  git  Brer  Jones  in  de  brahs  an'  bramel. 

Yo'  kain't  conspute  deez  fac's  bejinks! 
Dey  stan'  ez  stedfas'  ez  de  spinks! 
Land  sakes!    Why  Jedge  it  makes  me  tickle, 
In  spite  Brer  Jones  seems  in  er  pickle. 

Ah's  'zamind  whut  shakespook  done  says, 
An'  took  er  glimpse  at  Paul  an'  Peter. 
Brer  Jones  am  vinderkated  dah, 
In  ebbry  line  an'  ebbry  meeter! 

Dey's  lots  ob  pressure  fotchd  to  bare, 
Dat's  fundermental  now  an'  den, 
An'  abdeekates  bumbasstickly, 
But  dat  doan'  prove  he  stole  er  hen. 

De  horoscope  am  sanctified ! 
De  muskkerdine  it  am  mos '  rude ! 
De  allerbasker  fermentates, 
De  circumstances  all  am  crude! 

Ah's  toP  geehosserfat  once  said 
De  fillentroppic  spirit  am, 
Incopious  an'  regenerates, 
Wiffin  de  dusky  race  ob  Ham. 

Dahfo'  ah  skribes  mahse'f  pro-tern 
To  ax  fo'  habbiss  korpusness. 
To  extricate  dis  'tanglement, 
An '  free  dis  brudder  in  distress ! 


Now  Jedge  dey's  no  use  foolin'  'roun', 
Er  dodgin'  at  dis,  an'  er  dodgin'  at  dat. 
Fac's  am  done  been  done  splained  by  me; 
Dey's  no  use  takin'  titt  fo'  tatt! 

De  adament  inkulkates  f ac  's ! 
De  revised  law  disrupterkates. 
De  prelude  fas'  ersimmerlates, 
An'  swallers  fac's  an'  massterkates ! 

Dey's  no  dygresshun  ez  ah  spoze, 

To  comprehen  de  pennetooch! 

Dey's  nuff  been  flosserfied  by  me, 

To  get  Brer  Jones  plum  out  dis  skrooteh. 

De  spectacle 's  extravagant ! 

De  economics  verified! 

Ah  captivates  de  pinacle, 

An'  all  de  res'  Jedge  am  supplied! 

All  dis  am  high  pofettical ! 
Combussterbel  ez  kyaroseen. 
Er  part  an'  paresoil  theeorized, 
De  mos'  conglomrate  ah's  done  seen. 

Brer  Jones  hain't  stole  no  chickens,  Jedge. 

He  am  er  Christian  good  an'  strong. 

He  am  er  piller  in  de  church, 

He  nebbah's  done  er  ting  dat's  wrong. 

Kose  he  laks  chicken  lak  us  all, 
An'  nebbah  r 'fuses  ah  mus'  'fess, 
When  ebbah  it  am  passed  eroun', 
To  kyarv  hisse'f  er  batch  ob  bress'. 


10 


But  he  doan'  'low  his  appetite 
To  make  him  do  er  ting  not  right ! 
He  sho'  loves  wattahmillun,  Jedge! 
Ah  swah!  he  woulden'  steal  er  bite. 

De  dignity,  Jedge,  ob  mah  job 
Requires  me  to  presippertate ! 
De  sponserbillties  frust  on  me, 
To  testify  an'  approbate. 

Ah's  sillerquized  dis  case  er  speck, 
An'  trompd  'roun'  all  dis  legal  groun' 
Dey  hain  't  no  afferbillity 
De  krosserkewshun  done  am  foun'. 

De  parables  reverberrates, 

De  longitude  done  broadens  out, 

Say  Jedge,  come  down  to  chicken  fac's 

Whut  am  all  dis  hyar  fuss  erbout? 

De  climax  am  extemporized! 
De  rectangle  am  hard  to  beat, 
Ah  advocates  de  rule  in  vain, 
Ah  moves  we  drap  de  gross  reseat. 

So  Jedge,  ah  winds  dis  case  tight  up ! 
An'  klood  dat  it  am  time  to  stop. 
Ah  hopes  yo'll  fertillize  deez  pints, 
An'  over  on  mah  issue  flopp ! 


11 


jfisbin'  Cime. 


To  MR.  E.  H.  SHARP. 


Blue  bird  an'  de  killdee 

Am  er  fiittin'  by! 

Spring  time  chillun ! 

An'  de  fishin'  time's  nigh! 

Git  de  pole  an'  tackle 

An'  we'll  tromp  down  to  de  stream, 

Whah  de  fish  bull  an'  de  turtle 

Dah  am  jes'  ez  thick  ez  cream ! 

Look  hyar  Efram  Sambo, 
Grabb  dat  spade  an'  dig  some  bait. 
Git  up  in  er  jiffy! 
Kaze  we  hain  't  got  long  to  wait ! 
Yo's  slower  den  de  ol'  man, 
An'  ah's  sixty  fow  an'  twenty, 
Go  f otch  us  back  er  kyart  load ! 
Kaze  dis  bait  am  li'l  scanty! 

Dat  Sambo,  he  am  er  critter, 
He's  ez  lazy  ez  Ike  Skrimmin', 
He  jes'  needs  er  good  cowhidin', 
Er  some  udder  kine  ob  trimmin'. 
Ah  wish  ah  was  his  daddy! 
Yo'  bet  ah'd  make  him  walk  it 
An'  de  time  ah  got  froo  wiff  him 
He  er  picket  fence  could  hopp  it ! 
Rastus  fotch  mah  backker 
An'  mah  pipe  dah  in  de  shanty! 
Come  on  wiff  us  Sambo! 


12 


Ah  specks  yo  's  dug  us  bait  er  plenty ! 

AVhah's  de  poles  an'  tackle, 

Dog  mah  cats ! 

Whut's  dat  boy  doing? 

Dat  li'P  po'  brack  raskul 

Keeps  me  brilein '  an '  er  stewin ' ! 

Yo '  better  come  er  flyin ' ! 

Yo '  li  T  white  eyed  pickerninny ! 

AYhah's  mah  pipe  an'  backker? 

Hain't  yo'  fotchd  de  ol'  man  any? 

Erpon  mah  soul !    Yo 's  nuif 

To  make  me  stomp  lak  massa  Dixon ! 

Yo'  tink  wees  got  de  whol'  day 

Fo'  er  foolin'  an'  er  fixin'? 

De  older  dat  yo'  gits 
Ah  blebs  de  bigger  fool  yo's  makin'! 
Look  hyar  stop  yo'  bawlin' 
An'  yo'  twiss'n'  an'  er  shakin'! 
See  hyar!  whah's  yo'  mammy? 
Betsy?    Fetch  mah  pipe  an'  backker, 
Bress  dat  ol'  brack  woman! 
Dey's  no  udder  sweet  jes'  lak  her! 

Well  boys,  we'll  tromp 

Ercross  de  meadows 

To  ol  possum  trott  lagoon ! 

Tromp  up  li'F  faster 

Kaze  it's  gittin'  'long  to  noon! 

Ah  nebbah  goes  er  fishin', 
'Dout  dis  good  ol'  rabbit's  foot! 
Ah  kyars  it  right  hyar,  sah ! 


13 


In  de  leg  ob  dis  ol'  boot. 
Kaze  ah  bleebs  in  hants  an'  hoodoos, 
Dat  day  pessterkatcs  erbout, 
But  dis  rabbit's  foot  an'  pepper 
Soon  will  git  'em  on  de  rout! 

It  sho '  do  break  de  hoodoo 

Dis  ol'  rabbit's  foot  ob  mine! 

Tis  good  luck  to  de  ol'  man, 

Fetches  nibbles  to  mah  line. 

Ah  nebbah  goes  erway 

Wiffout  er  bull  fish 

An'  er  sucker 

To  hab  er  big  fish  fryin' 

An'  to  'vite  in  Sistah  Tucker! 

When  ah's  froo  er  fishin', 

An'  mah  line  won't  hoi'  no  mo', 

Ah  puts  foots  in  de  road 

An'  den  ah  tromps  back  to  de  do', 

Ah  hyar  ol'  Betsy  singin', 

An'  er  hummin'  at  er  song, 

"Ah  wish  mah  ol'  man 

Wiff  dem  fish  would  come  erlong." 

Den  ah  ropp  sof '  on  de  do'. 

An'  she  say,  "ol'  man 

Am  dat  yo'?" 

Kose  it  am  mah  Betsy ! 

It's  yo'  ol'  man  sho'  fo'  true! 

Den  she  frows  de  do'  wide  open, 

When  she  sees  dah  in  mah  han', 

De  fish  she  shouts  fo'  glory, 

Grabbs  de  lard  an'  fryin'  pan! 


Sich  er  sizzlin'  an  'er 

Frizzlin'  when  she  frows 

Dem  in  to  frye! 

De  pickerninnys  file  up, 

Smack  dey  mouves  an '  bat  dey  eye ! 

An'  de  way  dey  keeps  er  shoutin', 

All  de  passel  sho'  do  feel, 

De  bull  fish  in  de  batter, 

Beats  de  possum  an'  de  eal. 

Yo'  tawk  erbout  yo'  bacon 
An'  yo'  tawk  erbout  yo'  greens, 
An'  yo'  tawk  erbout  yo' 
Hoghead  cooked  wiff 
Great  big  chunks  ob  leen, 
Yo'  tawk  erbout  er  fiddle 
An'  er  good  ol'  banjo  tone, 
Dat  strikes  yo'  in  de  ankle 
An '  dat  koch  yo '  in  de  bone. 

But  dey's  nuffin'  makes  yo'  chuckle, 
An'  dey's  nuifin'  makes  yo'  shout, 
Ez  when  yo's  got  er  nibble, 
An'  yo's  fetched  er  bull  fish  out! 

Deri  it's  tromp  !    tromp  !  tromp ! 
We  am  totein'  to  de  stream, 
Whah  de  bull  fish  an'  de  turtle 
Dah,  am  jes'  ez  fick  ez  cream ! 


IS 


IKAay   3>own  Souf! 

To  S.  NKAL  HAI.LOCK. 

Sing  dat  song  once  mo ' ! 

Miss  Mandy. 

Jes'  once  mo',  jes'  ef '  yo'  please. 

It  sounds  ez  sweet 

Ez  angel  whispers 

An'  de  song  birds  'mong  de  trees. 

It  kyars  me  back !— way  back  yonder ! 

Way  down  souf ! 

Whah  we  tromp'd  froo  de 

Cotton  fields, 

An'  when  ah  hearts  was  sad, 

We  sung  dat  chune, 

To  make  ah  souls  glad! 

Way  down  souf! 

Yo'  know  nuffin'  bout  dem  days. 

Miss  Mandy — 

Dem  was  befo'  yo'  time. 

'Sides  yo's  bin  rar'd 

In  er  diffun'  clime! 

Yo'  nebbah  had  to  work 

Fum  de  fus'  horn  bio' 

Lak  we  uster  hab  to  hoe 

Till  de  sun  sink'd  lo', 

Way  down  souf ! 


16 


But  we  had  good  times 

Miss  Mandy! 

Some  good  ol'  times  fo'  sho'! 

01'  missy  an'  ol'  massa, 

We  didn'  let  'em  know! 

Yo'  bet  wees  mighty  kyarful 

When  we  had  ah  dance  an'  feas', 

Dat  dey  didn'  git  an'  inklin' 

Ner  er  pinter  in  de  leas'. 

When  ah  hyar  dat  chime 

Miss  Mandy, 

Ah  wants  to  step  erbout 

An'  do  jes'  lak  de  ol'  fo'ks 

When  dey  uster  sing  an'  shout, 

Way  down  souf ! 

Ah  kin  see  'ern  now ! 

Ez  dey  raised  dey  voice  to  sing 

An'  sot  de  ol'  brack  shanty 

In  one  great  big  ring, 

Way  down  sonf ! 

Dey'd  fill  up  wiff  de  gospel 

At  de  soun'  ob  dat  ol'  chune, 

An'  raise  up  Paul  an'  Lazarus 

When  dey  soul  got  in  er  boon, 

Way  down  souf ! 


17 


But  dem  day's  done  gone 

Miss  Mandy. 

Dey's  gone  lak  er  dream! 

An'  de  oP  fo'ks  done  'cross 'd  de  stream 

But  doh  dey's  gone  an'  ah's  lef '  erlone, 

An '  ol '  age  done  creep  'd 

In  decz  ol'  bones, 

Dey's  er  hankerin'  feelin' 

Keeps  er  dribein'  me  back! 

Way  down  souf ! 

When  er  dahky  is  ol' 

An'  his  step  comes  slo', 

An'  he  totters  lak  er  reed. 

When  de  sof  winns  bio', 

An*  all  his  ties  ob  earf  am  dead, 

An'  fo'ks  all  strange 

Whah  ebber  he  tread, 

It 's  de  ol '  time  chime 

Wiff  er  clah  keen  knack, 

Dat  makes  yo'  feel  new, 

Seems  yo'  youth  comes  back, 

Way  down  souf ! 


18 


SSrac  Sheep* 


To  DR.  JOHN  DUDLEY  DUNHAM  AND  WILBUR  DUNHAM, 
Columbus,  Ohio. 


De  li'l  brae'  sheep 
Tromp  'roun'  all  day, 

Way  in  de  lonesome  medder, 
He  git  los '  f  um  de  res ' 

Ob  de  fol'  an  May 
Out  in  de  rain  drap  wedder. 

He  tuck  'imse'f  up, 

Chuck  full  ob  chill, 
An'  lis'en, 

Sof  'ly  lis'en, 
To  hyar  de  massa 

Call  fum  de  hill 
To  tell  dat  he 

Am  miss'n. 

He  look  eroun' 

An'  peer  en'  peer, 
Wid  er  feelin' 

Kineder  skeery. 
Den  he  tromp 

An'  tromp 
Dis  way  an'  tutter 

Till  ergin  ergittin'  weary. 


19 


He  sot  down  ergin 

Kineder  solemn  lak 
An'  he  drap  his  head 

In  ponder 
Jes'  er  try  in'  hard 

To  solve  er  way 
To  git  out  ob 

His  quander. 

But  it  seem 

De  mo'  he  tink 
An'  tink 

His  head  chucks  up 
Wid  muddle 

An'  he  tink  an  tink 
His  se'f  to  sleep 

Till  ergin 
He  lay  in  er  huddle. 

Finally  he  hyars 

De  call  ergin 
An'  de  po'  li'l  brae' 

Sheep  waken, 
An'  he  hop  up  kineder  slo' 

Lak  he  got  er  li'l'  doubt 
While  his  chilly  frame 

Keep  shakin'. 


20 


Den  he  tromp  off  slo' 
An'  he  peep  an'  peep, 

An'  he  lif '  up  his  head 
An'  lis'en, 

To  hyar  dat  voice 
Call  out  some  mo' 

To  say  dat  he  am  missin'. 

Las'  de  call  come  slo' 

In  er  solemn  tone, 
An'  he  stop  an'  peer 

An'  lis'en, 
An'  he  caper  wiff  glee 

Fum  bone  to  bone 
Kaze  he  kno' 

Dat  he  am  missin'. 

An'  he  tarn  his  head 

To  koch  de  pint 
Fom  which  de  soun' 

Am  trab'lin 
Den  he  stawt  off  slo ' 

An'  he  tromp  an'  tromp 
Til  de  massa 

Come  up  an'  grab  'im. 


21 


Ipawson  locus  Visits  Sistah 
(tootles. 


Howdy  Sistah  Tootles! 

Ah's  jesj  er  passin'  by. 
Thought  I'd  kindah  drap  in 

Let  yo'  kno'  revival's  nigh. 
Hain't  seed  yo'  out  to  meetin', 

Ner  Deacon  Tootles  needer, 
Yo '  know  ah  miss  yo '  all 

Kaze  yo's  so  good  er  stawtin'  meeter. 

How's  de  ol'  fo'ks  an'  de  chillen? 

Tell  me  how  dey's  gittin'  long, 
When  yo '  doan  come  out  to  meetin ' 

Ah  knows  dey  am  sumpin'  wrong. 
How's  de  ol'  man's  roomertism, 

How's  his  gout,  his  corns  an'  chills? 
Seems  dis  whole  big  human  famly 

Mus'  hab  some  de  aches  an'  ills. 


Well  ah  guess  it's  bes'  to  hab  'em 

Kaze  de  Lawd  he  had  'em  too. 
So  we  jes'  well  keep  on  trus'in' 

An'  ah  guess  he'll  fotch  us  froo. 
Paul  he  had  'em,  good  ol'  Lijah, 

Moses  an'  de  res'  de  flock 
But  dey  kep'  dey  foots  er  trompin' 

On  de  good  ol'  Zion's  rock. 


22 


Doan'  yo'  kno'  good  Sistah  Tootles, 

Ah's  had  trials  dat  prick 'd  lak  thorns. 
An'  I'd  git  so  glum  an'  muddled, 

Wished  I'd  nebbah  done  been  born, 
When  de  fus'  ting  dat  I'd  knows  ob 

Some  good  Sistah  jes'  lak  yo', 
Would  fotch  'roun'  er  great  big 

Possum,  sich  stuff 
An'  er  chicken  er  two. 

Den  right  dah  mah  burden  drapp'd  off 

An'  mah  soul  got  light  ez  air 
An '  yo '  good  ol '  pawson,  honey 

Was  widout  an'  ache  er  care. 
Well  sah !  ef  hyar  hain  't  de  Deacon, 

Deed  it  dooz  mah  soul  delight, 
Jes'  er  gittin  ready  am  yo', 

Fo'  to  stawt  out,  well  dat's  right, 
Man  mus'  earn  his  bread  an'  butter 

In  de  perspire  ob  his  brow, 
Diggin'  tayters,  wheelin' 

Turnips,  makin'  out  ah  guess  some  how. 

Hope  yo'll  make  er  lots  ob  money, 

Sabe  de  Pawson  liV  bit, 
Kose  yo'  knows  de  Bible  pintly 

Says  dis  one  ting,  not  fo'git. 
Good  day  Deacon,  trus'  de  Lawd  sah ! 

An'  he'll  fotch  yo'  froo  alright, 
Ah '11  pray  some  too 

Fo'  yo'  bruddah,  fo'  ah  goes 
To  bed  tonight. 


23 


Am  dat  Rastus?    Come  hyar  sonny 

He  am  jes'  de  spit  ob  yo'. 
Got  er  head  lak  Bookah  Wash 'ton 

Make  er  preechah  ob  him  too, 
Yo'  bin  in  de  lasses,  hain't  yo? 

Stealin'  shoogah  fum  yo'  mammy. 
Yo's  jes'  up  de  same  ol'  trixins 

Lak  dat  boy  ob  mine  call'd  Sammy. 

An'  dah's  Sukie,  come  hyar  honey 
Come  an'  shake  de  Pawson's  hand. 

Siss  yo's  got  de  sweetes'  chillen 
In  mah  Sabbath  schoolin'  band. 


See  hyar  siss,  yo's  lookin'  splendid! 

Yo '  keeps  gittin '  better  lookin ' 
Yo'  jes'  lak  some  pecrt  young  lassy, 

Why  doan'  yo'  hab  yo'  picter  tookin'? 
Ah  jes'  wish  yo'  wasn't  married 

Ah  jes'  wish  yo'  wasn't  too, 
I'd  jes'  gwine  an'  fotch  de  papers 

We'd  git  married 
Dat's  whut  we'd  do. 


Siss  yo'  wouldn't  hab 

No  'jections  would  yo' 
Ef  sich  was  de  ease? 

Yo'  am  jes'  de  kine  ob  Sistah 
Fo'  to  be  in  sich  er  place. 

Yo'  kin  sing  all  kind  of  meeters, 
Yo'  kin  pray  lak  sixty,  too 

Dey  hain't  nuffin'  in  church  tactics 
Dat  mah  Sistah  yo'  kain't  do. 


24 


Kose  ol'  Betsy  she  still  totes  roun' 

An'  fo'  years  we's  been  togeddah, 
But  ah  telf  yo'  Sistah  Tootles, 

She  am  'trary  ez  Ruff  weddah, 
She's  so  jealous,  an' 

She's  got  so  dat  she  frows 
Flat  irons  at  me, 

Ebbry  time  ah's  got  er  'pinion 
Dat  wiff  her  doan'  'zackly  'gree. 

Tings  am  gittin'  too  prekyaress 

Ah  kain't  stand  de  ting  er  tall, 
Why  she  shubb'd  me  in  de  fiah  place 

Kaze  ah  mentioned  Sistah  Gaul. 
Kose  ah  nat'ly  laks  de  Sistah 's 

'Zacly  lak  de  Lawd  intended 
An'  ah  isn't  gwine  to  slight  'em 

Doan'  kyar  how  she  gits  offended. 
But  ah  guess  yo's  got  er  miff  troubles 

Wiffout  hyarin'  mah  tales  an'  woes, 
Kaze  ah  got  mo'  fo'  to  mention 

Den  ah's  in  mah  shack  got  clothes. 

See  hyar  Sistah  Tootles, 

Ah's  jes'  tellin'  Bruddah  Bryahs 
Dat  he  oddah  tas'e  yo'  cookin' 

Yo's  de  bes'  cook  in  de  choirs, 
Dey  hain't  no  use  er  tawkin' 

Fum  Sally  down  to  Mandy, 
When  it  comes  to  ol'  time  cookin' 

Dey  hain't  no  one  lak  yo'  handy. 


25 


No  ah  tank  yo'  mah  good  sistah, 

Ah  regrets  ah  kain't  sot  down, 
Kose  yo'  knows  ahs  lots  ob  visits 

Fo'  to  make  erbout  de  town. 
Some  de  sistahs  will  git  jealous 

Ef  de  Pawson  doan'  call  'roun' 
So  ah  mus'  keep  tings  harmonious 

Ef  ah  specs  to  stay  in  town. 

Ah  jes'  had  er  minute  sistah, 

But  to  yo'  mah  specs  mus'  make. 
Sis  whut's  dat  er  sotin'  yondah? 

Am  dat  some  dat  ol'  poun'  cake? 
Look  lak'somepun's  boun'  to  happen 

Fo'  to  make  me  late  some  how, 
Sistah  skewze  mah  fernal  bruppness 

Jes '  er  slice  ob  dat  right  now. 

Ah  mus'  say  ah  jes'  kain't  he'p  it 

Yo's  de  bes'  ermong  mah  sheep. 
Oh  fo'  Gawd  sakes!    Sistah  Tootles, 

Hain  't  yo '  gwine  to  some  dat  keep  ? 
Umph!    Yo'  sholy  lubbs  yo'  Pawson 

Yo's  done  proved  dat  ting,  ah  kno' 
Mah  times  up,  ah  knows,  good  sistah 

But  it  seems  ah  jes'  kain't  go. 

Whut  yo '  gwine  to  do  now  Sistah  ? 

Fetch  some  possum?    Whut  yo'  say, 
Look  er  hyar  de  way  yo's  fixin' 

Ah  woan'  git  erway  to  day, 
Kose  yo '  hain  't  ergwine  to  'suit  me 

Fotch  whut  ebbah  dah  yo's  got, 
Hain't  yo'  got  er  few  dem  chittlins 

Kinder  steemin'  in  de  pot? 


26 


Hab  yo '  ?    Mah  sakes  Sistah  Tootles 

Dis  am  bettah  den  revival, 
Dis  am  gospul,  dis  hain't  flattah 

Dey's  no  one  dat  am  yo'  rival. 
Doan'  git  angry  wift'  yo?  Pawson, 

Ah  doan'  mean  no  'fense  er  tall, 
Ah  jes'  feels  jes'  lak  cne  ob  yo' 

Ebbry  time  ah  makes  er  call. 

Had  no  idea  dat  ahs  gwine  to 

Hab  sich  sprizes  'frust  on  me 
Seems  de  Lawd  am  'tinually  boun'  to 

Rain  sich  manna  down  on  me, . 
Hope  'twill  allus  be  er  rainin' 

Ef  sich  stuff  ez  dis  comes  down, 
Ah  hain't  tickler  'bout  no 

Mansion,  'bout  no  robe 
Ner  'bout  no  crown. 


What's  dat  clock  er  tickin'  Sistah? 

Seben,  er  lebben?    Ah  mus'  go  I 
Wrap  up  somefim  fo'  de  Pawson 

Kaze  termorrow  ah '11  eat  some  mo'. 


27 


2>c  Cullabd  Speekab! 


To  DR.  E.  A.  WHITMIRE,  Columbus,  Ohio. 


Mah  frens  an'  fellah  trabblers, 

Ah  rise  tonight  to  say, 
Dat  ah  feels  mos'  eppahzootic 

To  be  honored  in  dis  way. 
Ah  didn't  kaekerlate 

Ah 's  gwine  to  be  de  f us '  to  speak, 
An'  to  buss  in  at  dis  juncture 

Seems  it  am  er  lots  ob  cheek. 


Ah  hain't  much  on  speech  makin', 
Ah  doan'  lay  no  claim  to  sich, 

Ah's  'fraid  befq'  ah  gits  froo 
Airs  gwine  to  swamp  into  de  ditch. 

Ah's  kinder  skyard  ah's  gwine  to 
Git  de  hoss  behine  de  kyart ! 

So  dat  am  pawt  de  reason 

Dat  ah 's  er  li  ?1 '  skyard  to  stawt. 

Ah  hain't  much  on  skewce  makin', 

Tryin'  to  wiggle  out  de  hawness, 
Dis  am  er  fac'  ah  speaks  tonight, 

An'  comes  fum  one  dat's  honess', 
Dis  am  big  game  fo'  me  tonight, 

Ah  mus'  say  fo'  to  tackle, 
So  dat  am  'bout  de  reason, 

Dat  ah  feels  jes'  skyard  er  spackle. 


28 


Ah  doan'  know  much  'bout  grammah, 

Dahfo'  nebbah  de  less  ah  specks, 
Befo'  ah  gits  ha'f  froo  dis  ting 

Ah '11  git  loss  in  mah  tex' 
De  d 'suits  am  so  permisskess 

An'  so  debillertates  itse'f, 
Dat  after  'vestergayshun 

Dey  hain't  nuffin'  much  dat's  lef '. 

Ah  useter  preech  er  li'l'  bit, 

Was  called  er  fair  exzortah ! 
But  some  de  deacons  rizzed  er  kick, 

An'  cut  mah  salary  shortah. 
Right  den  an'  dah  ah  drapp'd  mah  trade, 

White  washin'  b'gin  to  follah. 
So  when  yo'  need  sich  in  mah  line 

Yo'll  find  me  in  de  hollah. 

Ah  see  so  many  hyar  tonight 

Kin  orate  lak  good  Moses. 
Ah  jes'  kain't  see  how  ise  de  one 

To  speak,  yo'  good  fo'ks  choses, 
Ah  sho'  mus'  'gratulate  mahse'f 

At  dis  great  unckshess  kineness 
An'  pacify  mah  inmos'  soul  an'  say, 

Dis  am  sublimeness, 

Sich  honors  frusst  on  me  dis  way 

It  pessterkates  me  terr'ble! 
Ah's  jes'  plum  drunk  wiff  joy  an'  glee, 

An'  free  fum  all  tings  worr'ble. 
Ah  retrospeckterkates  er  speck 

De  pass  down  to  de  present, 
De  'vancement  ob  prosperity, 

Bobbs  up  jes'  lak  er  pheasant. 


29 


Why  ah  jes'  feels  mos'  hippnertized, 

Mah  heart's  combusskerated ! 
To  hab  sich  good  will  ob  yo'  all, 

To  be  so  enervated. 
De  parr'ble  ob  mah  dreams  explode 

Far  mo'  den  ah  expected! 
Ah  hopes  whut  ah's  done  said  tonight. 

Will  allus  be  refleckted. 

Dey's  so  much  dat's  to  tawk  erbout, 

Mah  mine  gits  in  confusion, 
In  tryin'  to  exkervate  some  thoughts 

De  differn'  sides  perroozin', 
But  beings  ah  mus'  be  speedy. 

Kaze  mah  time  am  got  er  limit. 
De  tings  dat  am  less  'powtant, 

Ah '11  mah  subjec'  kinder  trim  it. 

Mah  frens  yo'  all  am  'sembled  hyar, 

To  abdercate  great  problem, 
Ah  hopes  yo'll  labberate  yo'se'ves 

Togeddah  fo'  to  solb  'em. 
De  copiousness  ob  fluency 

Absorbs  mah  aspirations, 
To  sich  er  stent 

Ah  hopes  mah  frens 
AA7ill  he'p  de  cullahd  nation! 

Kose  ah  debbillerates  de  fac' 

Dat  we  hain  't  reached  de  zenith ! 
Whah  'v.ancement  an'  prosperity 

Am  hubberin'  in  between  us. 
De  eagle  am  er  roostin'  high! 

He  flopps  his  wings  an'  flutters, 
He  koch  er  hoi'  de  Stars  an'  Stripes 

An'  says  we  all  am  brudders. 


30 


Move  on  ye  cullahd  fo'ks!    Move  on! 

Jes '  lak  de  ship  oh  Zion ! 
Bf  yo'  kerilounce  de  Lawd  will  gibb 

Yo '  credit  f o '  er  tryin ' ! 
De  bumbs  may  buss  loss  in  de  air, 

De  shells  crack  loose  an'  whis'el! 
Jes'  dodge  ?un  lak  er  porckyoopine 

March  on  lak  Paul,  de  Pissel ! 

Ah  takes  de  telescope  ob  thought, 

An'  views  beyond  ol'  Dixie! 
An'  tings  am  kinder  brilein'  up 

An'  gittin'  mighty  twisty! 
Jes'  keep  right  on! 

Doan'  make  er  turn, 
Jes'  keep  yo'  foots  er  trompin' 

Fus'  ting  yo'  know  yo'  all  will  buss 
Squrh  in  de  harbor  stompin'! 

De  flosserfy  ob  de  phrase 

Ah  bleebs,  de  subjoc'  signed  befo'  me, 
It's  got  me  sort  ah  tangled 

At  de  same  time  kineder  bores  me  I 
Ah  Jaks  to  towk  permisskuss 

Fus'  one  ting  an'  den  de  udder, 
Not  tied  up,  but  jes'  let  loose 

Lak  er  ship  dat's  on  er  skudder. 

Perskronnimy  am  one  de  tings 

Ah  laks  mos'  pow'ful  awful! 
Er  ting  ah  laks  to  'lusstrate  'bout 

When  3h  gits  pow'ful  thoughtful. 
It  patterrisk  terkates  mah  views 

An'  makes  mah  subjec'  spicey! 
It  jossellates  de  fo'kses  up 

So  dat  dey  doan '  git  icey ! 


31 


But  pollerticks  am  er  nudder  ting. 

Dat  occupies  mah  tenshun! 
Ah '11  not  abbrupterkate  dis  now, 

To  gibb  mah  time  extenshun' 
Mah  time  am  flittin'  mighty  fas' 

Jes '  lak  er  big  ball  eagle ! 
Ah  guess  it's  'bout  de  time  fo'  me 

To  out  dis  loop  to  wiggle! 

Ah  hopes  ah's  spok'd  hermet'cally 

In  sich  er  way  an'  manner 
To  glorify  dis  United  States 

Dis  great  big  'Mer'can  banner! 
Dat  quadruped  de  dubb  ob  peace 

Kerfrolics  'roun'  erbout  us! 
De  lion's  done  laid  down  wiff  de  sheep 

An'  fears  done  tuck  plum  out  us! 

Now  ef  yo'll  cleah  yo'  froats  er  spell, 

We'll  hab  er  liT  singin', 
Ah  want  yo'  all  to  sot  dis  place, 

Jes'  lak  er  cow  bell  ringin', 
Jes '  f row  yo '  soul  dow  in  de  chune ! 

An  buss  out  payteottic 
'Rouse  de  white  fo'ks  off  dey  shinns 

Wiff  er  cheer  dat's  narrokocktic ! 


32 


|po'  ILiT  IRastus. 

To  DR.  C.  E.  MCCLELLAND,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Little  Rastus  feelin'  blue— 

Po' li'l 'Rastus! 
Out  o'  sorts  an'  gloomy,  too! 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Broke  his  little  hobby  hoss. 
Makes  de  little  fellah  cross. 
Doan'  cry,  honey,  'tain'  much  loss. 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 

He  jes'  wo'  out,  rompin'  'roun', 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Git  up,  honey,  fum  de  groun'. 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 

Look  ee  dah,  dun  spiled  yo'  dress, 
An'  it  am  yo'  Sunday  bes', 
Now  hain  't  yo '  er  poody  mess ! 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 

Whut  dat  stickin'  on  yo'  han'? 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Yo'  bin  in  de  'lasses  can. 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Whut  dat  whut  de  Bible  say 
'Bout  de  chile  dat  steal  day  'way? 
He  '11  go  whah  de  bad  man  stay ! 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 


33 


Dat  ol'  bad  man  am  er  sight. 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Cum  er  sneakin'  'roun'  at  night. 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Cum  an'  koch  yo'  when  yo'  sleep, 
Den  he  take  er  great  big  leap ! 
Down  er  hoi '  dat  's  way  down  deep ! 

Po'  Irl'  Rastus! 

Cum  hyeah,  KV  wooly  head. 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Gwine  to  tuck  yo'  way  to  bed. 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 
Leek  ee  dah,  de  day  dun  gone ! 
Shaddahs  streamin'  th'ew  de  co'n, 
•Sleep  until  de  sunlight  dawn ! 

Po'  li'l'  Rastus! 


34 


2>c  "Big  Jfow"  Gullabd 

'Gcpsbun. 

To  DR.  SHERMAN  LEACH,  Columbus,  Ohio. 


Was  yo'  at  de  dance  an'  'sepshun? 

At  siss  Poodle's  Chevvsday  night? 
Didn't  git  no  inbertayshun ? 

Sut'ly  yo'  she  didn't  slight! 

'Tis  de  troof  ah  tells  yo',  Liza, 
All  de  bes'  fo'ks  in  de  town, 

Multitnded  dah  toegeddah, 
Dey  was  dah  fo'  miles  eroun'. 

Plain 't  no  stretehin'  ob  de  blanket, 
All  dem  f o  'ks  was  dress  to  def ! 

Not  er  tryin'  to  be  puzzumpshus, 
Dis  ol'  gal  looked  right  herse'f ! 

Snkie  Razzah,  Tootsy  Dewdrap, 
Roxy  Hurdle  'ceived  de  gess, 

Dat  was  'pozed  ob  tony  dahkys 
Fum  de  Norf,  Souf/Eas'  an'  Wes', 

When  dey  stawtediip  de  dancin', 
Roozlum  Jacobs !    Rome  did  howl ! 

Oh  mah  foddah  !  But  yo'  oddah, 
Seed  ol'  prancin'  Sistah  Owl! 

She's  jes'  lay  in'  back  on  dat  dahky 
Come  fum  Dixie  hyar  las'  June, 

He's  de  mugwump  tried  to  make  us, 
Bleeb  he  was  some  'pawton  coon. 


35 


Allus  frowin'  out  words  jawbreakers, 
Struttin'  tarnin'  up  his  nose, 

Wiff  dat  great  big  bee  gum  hat  on 
An'  dem  yaller  striped  cloze! 

He  was  bowin'  an'  er  scrapein' 
At  de  women  all  de  night ! 

Gibb  de  debbil  his  belongins' 
Mus '  say  he  was  mos '  perlite ! 

Mah  ol'  man  was  jes'  er  steppin', 
Wiff  his  sizzah  tailor  coat ! 

An'  dem  yaller  legged  pantaloons, 
Dey  was  loud  ernuff  to  vote ! 

Oh  his  hyar  was  combd  an'  pawt'd, 
Looked  ez  slick  ez  winder  glass ! 

An '  wiff  bohgomo '  he 's  'f  ewmed  up, 
An'  he's  nimble  ez  er  bass! 

When  de  fiddles  struck  de  po'kah, 
Umph !    Ah  koch  'd  '  im  by  de  wing ! 

Lif  mah  pickahdilly  trailah, 
Oh  but  how  we  bof  e  did  swing ! 

Pus'  de  slutein'  ob  yo'  pawtners, 
Den  de  hop  skipp  an'  de  jump ! 

An'  some  mo'  kerflootin'  tick  tacks, 
But  we  got  dah  ebbry  plump ! 

Pawt  de  time  dey  was  er  mix  up 
An'  er  rumpus  on  de  flo'! 

But  de  dahkys  somehow  managed 
Fo'  to  keep  de  ting  er  go ! 


36 


Sich  er  huggin'  an'  er  squeeziii'! 

Sich  er  bobbin'  up  an'  down! 
Pawt  de  time  ah  tootsy  woot  sees, 

Wasn't  techin'  tall  de  groun'! 

Jes'  we's  'bout  to  spred  de  eagle, 

Frisky  doubtin'  Thomas  Joe, 
Got  bofe  foots  mix'd  up  wiff  Sambo's 

Fell  an'  nahly  broke  his  toe! 

Jes'  de  same  he  kep'  er  tarnin' 

Lak  er  pickerninny  's  top  ! 
Long's  de  fiddles  was  er  sawin' 

Yo'  couldn't  make  de  dahky  stop ! 

He  was  dancin'  in  de  middle, 
Nex  he's  shufflin'  neah  de  wall, 

Doan'  kyar  how  dey  bumpd  ergin  'im, 
Dey  eouldn'  make  de  raskul  fall ! 

Lawd!  his  foots  dey  mus'  hab  measured, 

Twenty  inch  f um  heel  to  toe ! 
It  didn'  make  er  bit  er  diffunce 

Not  er  secon '  was  he  slo ' ! 

When  we  quit  to  go  to  supper, 
Sich  er  feas'  yo'  nebbah  seed! 

When  or  Sukie  gibb  de  signul, 
Wished  yo'd  seed  us  take  de  lead ! 

Good  by  Liza !    Lawd  er  mussy ! 

Ah  mus'  go  git  dat  washun  out! 
Fo'  dem  white  fo'ks,  ef  ah  doan' 

Dey'l  crack  dey  whip  an'  make  me  shout ' 


37 


B  profuse  JSncomium* 

To  DANIRL  J.  RYAN  AND  C.  H.  CARPENTER,  Columbns,  O. 

Lookin'  nice  to-night,  Miss  Liza, 

Yo's  out  dressed  'em  all  to-night. 
Wid  dat  ah  so  f  rusterkaytun 

Yo'  so  dazzlin'  in  de  light! 
Please  doan'  'strew  mah  wurds  fo  flattah 

Spoken  incandessenly, 
But!  wid  mutuallistie  frankness 

'Cep  'em  fabbrykayshenly. 

"Thank  you,  Mistah  Johnsin', 

Do  yo'  think  I  look  so  fine? 
'Deed  sah,  Mistah  Johnsin', 

Yo'  so  asterroshus  kine. 
Woan'  yo'  sot  beside  me 

An'  conversykate  er  while, 
Please  doan'  hab  no  skooples 

Kaze  Ize  togged  up  in  dis  style. ' ' 

"Yo's  suppassed  yo'se'f,  Miss  Liza, 

Quiv-vah-kay-shah-ently  gran', 
An'  yo'  grace  dis  runkshus  'kayshun 

Lak  one  fum  de  glory  Ian'. 
Ef  yo'  hab  no  inter jeckshuns 

Will  yo'  dance  er  step  wiif  me? 
Kaze  sech  'joicin'  frollerkayshun 

Gibbs  fellerisher-tish-shus  glee." 


"  'Skyoose  me,  Mistah  Johnsin', 

I  doan '  kyah^  to  mingel  late, 
I  would  raddah  be  specktayshus 

Sotin'  hyeah  wid  Mistah  Gate. 
Not  dat  I  doan '  d '  sah  yo '  tenshun 

An'  doan'  preeshee-ate  yo'  'ques', 
I  prefer  tran-quil-ler-kayshnn 

Sotin'  lookin'  at  de  res'." 

"  'Cept'  mah  'pology,  Miss  Liza, 

Fo'  mah  troo-ser-tay-shus  'ques'. 
I  jes  ax'd  yo'  fo'  politeness, 

Tho't  yo'd  lak  to  jine  de  res'." 
"  'Tain't  er  bit  o'  trooshun, 

Mistah  Johnsin ',  not  at  tall ! 
I  may  grant  yo'  axin' 

When  we  'ten'  sum  uddah  ball." 


39 


H  Dabky  2>itty. 

To  DR.  M.  D.  PITCH,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Oh  Dahky  stop  yo '  moanin '  I 
Oh  Dahky  stop  yo'  sigh! 
De  sun  am  'way  up  yondah 
Er  Blazin'  in  de  sky. 
De  vines  am  full  o'  millens 
De  apples  tarnin '  yaller ! 
De  sugar  corn's  in  tassel 
Down  yondah  in  de  holler. 

Down  yondah  in  de  holler 
Down  yondah  in  de  holler, 
De  sugar  corn 's  in  tassel 
Down  yondah  in  de  holler ! 

Oh  Dahky  stop  yo'  fussin'! 
Oh  Dahky  stop  yo'  pout! 
De  yam !  yam !  sweetah  tayters 
De  groun '  am  buss  'in '  out ! 

Dis  hain't  no  time  fo'  weepin' 
Hit's  time  fo'  juberlee! 
So  wipe  o'  way  de  drippins, 
Fill  up  yo'  soul  wif  glee! 


FIJI  up  yo'  soul  wift'  glee! 
Fill  up  yo '  soul  win:  glee ! 
An'  wipe  o'  way  de  drippins 
Fill  up  yo '  soul  wift'  glee ! 

De  Jaybird's  chattin'  gaily, 
De  Peacock  struttin  big ! 
De  fox  am  lookin'  cunin' 
Er  Blinkin'  at  de  pig; 

De  bull  frog  am  er  croakin' 
Er  coolin'  in  de  bogg 
De  summer  dreams  am  soothin' 
De  lazy  lonesome  dog. 

De  lazy  lonesome  dog, 

De  lazy  lonesome  dog, 

De  summer  dreams  am  soothin' 

De  lazv  lonesome  dog. 


Ipavvson  Johnson  at  2>inncr< 


To  PROFESSOR  WM.  O.  VINKY,  Indianapolis,  lad. 
AND  C.  W.  DORFLINGBR,  Columbus,  Ohio. 


He'p  you'se'f,  mah  bruddah, 

Jes'  make  yo'se'f  at  home! 
'Kaze  yo '  am  no  stranger 

To  Siss  Wiggle  Sloam. 
Go  'head  on  dat  chicken, 

'Kaze  it  tissen  skace! 
"Doan'  yo'  worry,  sistah, 

I  is  in  no  has  'e ! 


"Lan'  sakes,  Sistah  Wiggle, 

You'  treat  me  lak  er  king! 
Ha!  ha!  'skewze  me,  sistah, 

One  mo '  chicken  wing ! 
Tote  me  few  dem  waffles, 

Chitlins  good  an'  hot ! 
Ebbah  ting  ise  eatin' 

Trabbles  to  de  spot! 


42 


Lawd  Gawd !  Sistah  Wiggle, 

I  jes'  seed  dat  'possum! 
Hiden'  an'  er  grinin' 

'Hine  dat  sunflow  ?r  blossim  ! 
'Fo'  I'd  let  dat  possum 

Git  out  o'  mah  sight, 
Th'ow  erside  mah  Gospel, 

To  delas'  I'd  fight! 

Bruddah,  kain't  yo'  sortah 

Gibb  er  little  teas'? 
'Deed  I  kain't,  Gawd  knows  it, 

Whah  dey  's  possum  roas ' ! 
Feed  de  lambs,  mah  Sistah, 

Whut  de  good  book  say ! 
Yo's  fulfillin'  Scripshah 

Treatin'  me  dis  way! 


43 


Ulncle  1Hcd  an'  dc 
Bird. 


Bruddah  Mocking  Bird, 

Yo's  moighty  lazy. 

Yo'  doan'  do  nufin 
But  sing  dat  song, 
Till  de  daylight's  gone 
An'  de  night  cum  'long. 

Er  coon  has  got  to  hoe  an'  hoe, 

Till  de  sinkin'  sun 
Tells  de  day  to  go. 

Lawd,  but  yo'  sing 

So  pow  'f  ul  sweet  ! 
Perched  up  dah, 

In  yo'  leafy  seat. 

Is  yo'  lonesum? 
Does  yo'  hea't  feel  sad? 
'Pears  to  me 

Dat  yo'  soul  feels  glad. 

Ez  Ise  wockin'  hard, 

Sweet  ez  de  cloveah 
Yo7  song 

Floats  obeah, 
Way  in  de  co'nfield 

Whah  de  medlark  sings, 
Up  in  de  bough 

Ub  de  tree  it  clings. 


44 


Yo'  nebah  wock 

But  yo'  bread  is  sho', 
Out  in  de  yahd; 

'Fo'  ebbrv  do', 
Sum  kine  han' 

Th  'ows  de  little  crum ! 
Kaze  dey  kno'  fo'  sho' 

Dat  yo'  boun'  to  cum. 

De  good  Samaritan 

Part  dey  play. 

Let  yo '  go  'way  1 
Hungry  ?  No ! 

Dey  nebah  wood, 
Kaze  de  Lawd  wood  say 

Dat  dey  wasn't  good. 

I  kinedah  lak 

To  hyeah  yo'  sing, 
Ef  yo'  is  too  lazy 

To  flop  yo'  wing, 
Sing  on, 

Fill  de  worl '  wiff  song. 
I  mus'  be  gittin' 

Mali  wock  er  long. 


45 


Uflfsbed  I'd  IRode  1THab  -Hoes. 


To  DR.  E.  J.  WILSON,  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  E.  G.  BURKKAM,  Editor  of  Columbus  Dispatch. 


Rode  on  dat  ah  'lectric  kyah ! 

Wished  I  'd  rode  mah  hoss ! 
No  musstake  it  raised  mah  hyah ! 

Oddah  bin  er  long ! 
Nebbah  seed  sech  runnin'  son! 

Swo'  we's  flyin'  to  de  sun! 
Tho  't  dis  dahky  's  days  was  dun ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 

Gee !  dat  ting  did  split  de  ah ! 

Wished  I  'd  rode  mah  hoss ! 
Nuffin'  win"  it  kin  cornpah! 

Oddah  bin  er  long ! 
Ebbry  ting  wuz  blurred  in  sight ! 

Dus'  flew  higher  den  er  kite ! 
Kooden'  tell  de  lef '  fum  right! 

Wished  I  'd  rode  mah  hoss ! 

When  she  struck  eroun'  de  kyerve, 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
It  unstrung  mah  ebbry  nerve! 

Oh,  but  I  did  squirm ! 
Oh,  she  kyahd  us  down  de  line ! 

No  hobo  kood  stuck  behine! 
Ef  he  had  he'd  gone  stone  bline! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 


46 


Now  an '  den  she  sortah  reel ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
Stirred  me  up  fum  head  to  heel ! 

Lawd  but  I  did  quake ! 
Tawk  erbout  er  pow'ful  prah! 

I  sho'  made  one  den  an'  dah ! 
Strain  was  mo '  den  I  kood  bah ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 

Once  I  hyeahd  er  moighty  crack ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
Tho't  she's  gwine  to  leeb  de  track, 

Oddah  seed  me,  Chile! 
I  felt  mos '  prekareyus,  son ! 

I  hain't  tawkin'  jes'  fo'  fun! 
Tho't  dis  dahky's  day  was  dun, 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 


47 


WlisbcU  H'cl  IRode  HTlab  floss 


To  DR.  E.  J.  WILSON,  Colnmbus,  Ohio, 
and  E.  G.  BURKKAM,  Editor  of  Columbus  Dispatch. 


Rode  on  dat  ah  'lectric  kyah ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
No  muss  take  it  raised  mah  hyah ! 

Oddah  bin  er  long ! 
Nebbah  seed  sech  runnin'  son! 

Swo'  we's  flyin'  to  de  sun! 
Tho't  dis  dahky's  days  was  dun  ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 

Gee !  dat  ting  did  split  de  ah ! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
Nuffin'  wifit'  it  kin  cornpah! 

Oddah  bin  er  long ! 
Ebbry  ting  wuz  blurred  in  sight ! 

Dus'  flew  higher  den  er  kite ! 
Kooden'  tell  de  lef  fum  right! 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 

When  she  struck  eroun'  de  kyerve, 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  hoss! 
It  unstrung  mah  ebbry  nerve! 

Oh,  but  I  did  squirm ! 
Oh,  she  kyahd  us  down  de  line ! 

No  hobo  kood  stuck  behine! 
Ef  he  had  he'd  gone  stone  bline! 

Wished  I  'd  rode  mah  hoss ! 


46 


Now 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  boss! 
Stirred  me  up  fum  head  to  heel ! 

Lawd  but  I  did  quake! 
Tawk  erbout  er  pow'ful  prah! 

I  sho'  made  one  den  an'  dab! 
Strain  was  mo '  den  I  kood  bah ! 

Wished  I  'd  rode  mah  boss ! 

Once  I  hyeahd  er  moighty  crack ! 

WTished  I'd  rode  mah  boss! 
Tho't  she's  gwine  to  leeb  de  track, 

Oddah  seed  me,  Chile! 
I  felt  mos '  prekareyus,  son ! 

I  hain't  tawkin'  jes'  fo'  fun ! 
Tho't  dis  dahky's  day  was  dun, 

Wished  I'd  rode  mah  boss! 


47 


fHus'el. 

To  DR.  J.  H.  J.  UPHAM,  Columbus,  Ohio. 


Doan'  lag  an'  fool 
Erlong  de  way— 

Hus'el! 

Doan'  'spec'  to  do 
All  in  er  day— 

Hus'el! 


Things  will  cum 
Out  by  an'  by, 
Musen'  stop 
To  stew  an'  sigh. 
Den's  when  success 
May  be  nigh— 
Hus'el! 


Take  no  time 
Fo'  lookin'  back— 

Hus'el! 

T'  see  whose  cumin' 
On  de  track— 

Hus'el! 
Ebbry  time 
Yo's  losin'  groun', 
Time  yo'  take 
Fo'  gawkin'  'roun'. 
Ef  yo'  'spec' 
To  git  er  crown— 

Hus'el! 


48 


Ef  yo'  'spec' 

Er  erood  co'n  crop— 

^Hus'el! 
Nebah  git  it 
Ef  yo'  stop— 

Hus'el! 
Ef  yo'  'spec' 
De  corn  to  gro' 
Full  co'n  stawks 
In  ebbry  ro', 
Doan'  be  skaid 
To  use  de  hoe— 
Hus'el! 

Take  no  time 
To  argufy— 

Hus'el! 

T'  make  sum  fellah 
Out  er  lie— 

Hus'el! 
Ha'f  de  time 
Yo's  losin'  win', 
Same  time  doin' 
Er  li'P  sin. 
Aftah  all 
Yo'  nuffin  in— 

Hus'el! 


49 


Wflbcn  dc  tffab  am  HCiiHtlin'  ffot. 


To  ROBERT  PAYNE  and  MAJOR  J.  C.  FULTON, 
Columbus,  Ohio. 


When  de  sno'  it  am  er  fall  in', 

Winds  er  whizzin '  down  de  lanes, 
An'  de  fros'  it  am  er  freezin' 

Fo'  yo'  eyes  erpun  de  panes. 
Whut  am  beddah  den  er  neslin' 

'Roun '  er  fiah  dat  's  roas  'in '  hot  ? 
Fo'  er  pickahninny  dahky 

Hain't  er  mo'  enchantin'  spot. 

When  de  breezes  am  er  moanin' 

An'  de  sun  am  sinkin'  lo', 
An'  de  gloomy  clouds  an'  shaddahs 

Geddah  'roun'  erbout  yo'  do'; 
When  yo '  hyeah  de  co  'n  er  poppin ', 

See  de  cidah  all  er  foam, 
In  yo'  soul  de  joy  an'  gladness 

Seems  eroun'  erbout  to  roam. 

An'  yo'  granny  am  er  hummin', 

Cat  er  purrin'  on  de  rug, 
An'  yo'  git  er  sniff  de  burbun 

Dat  am  steamin'  fum  de  jug— 
Umph!  de  berry  'maggahnayshun 

Makes  er  puson  think  it's  real. 
It  am  glory !    Hesh  yo '  mouf ,  sah, 

Doan'  yo'  ax  me  how  yo'  feel. 


50 


All  yo?  troubles  an'  yo'  burdens 

Seems  to  take  de  swif  'es  flight ! 
Tears  yo'  berry  soul  am  lif 'ed 

To  dc  blissful  mountain  heights! 
Whah  le  lan's  erfT  wiff  honey, 

Streets  an'  alleys  paved  wiff  gol', 
An'  de  simphonnies  o'  heaben's 

Got  er  sweetries'  kaint  be  tol'. 

Yo'  kin  sing  de  song  o'  Moses, 

Shout  yo'se'f  clah  to  de  sky ! 
Pickahninny  's  den  in  cloveah, 

No  time  den  to  weep  an'  sigh. 
Let  de  sno'  keep  on  er  fallin', 

Let  de  breezes  whizz  an'  moan, 
Longs  er  pickahninny 's  nestlin' 

'Roun '  er  hot  fiah  ub  his  own. 


51 


DS 


